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Apple replacing frayed MagSafe power cables

According to a Knowledge Base article posted last week, Apple is now replacing (free of charge) frayed, discolored and deformed MagSafe power adapters for MacBook and MacBook Pro.

But -- and there's always a but -- they will only replace it if there's no sign of "abuse." So if you've been doing the right thing and holding the hard plastic connector to disconnect the cable, you might not have to pay another $80 for a new power adapter.

If your connector looks like the one pictured, and has been babied its entire life, then take it back to an Apple-Authorized Service Provider or an Apple retail store for an evaluation and replacement. It doesn't matter if the warranty has expired.

Also -- bonus points for the greeked copy at the bottom of Knowledge Base article page. I'm sure that counts for a shot in some obscure Apple website drinking game.

Thanks, Jeff!



According to a Knowledge Base article posted last week, Apple is now replacing (free of charge) frayed, discolored and deformed MagSafe...
 

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not pleased

I took my frayed cord to the shiny new Apple store in Boston. The "genius" looked up the serial number, saw that the computer is no longer under warranty and refused to replace the cord. Quality service for quality products. Apple still sux.

September 11 2008 at 6:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Matthew

One way you can prolong the life of the magsafe is to slide the little cord clip up to the magnetic part. Pretty much the same idea of wrapping a hose with duct tape to keep if from cracking.

August 29 2008 at 9:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John Snyder

I went to an Apple Store today and asked them about it. They had no idea what I was talking about. Has anyone else checked on this?

August 24 2008 at 6:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Andy Huang

Any words on frayed iPhone USB cables? My USB cable looks exactly like the cable in the picture of this entry!

August 23 2008 at 3:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeff

Woohoo, my article was published!

Anyways, i booked an appointment with the Genious bar and ended up being helped out by the Assistant Manager.

Anyway, she was very accommodating and helped me out without any issue. She looked at the cord, and replaced it with no questions!

The thing is, I actually went into to the store about 6 months ago and was told there was nothing I could do so I had to buy another one. Anyway, the Assistant store manager said that I could bring that one back (eventhough its past the return period) and they would refund me!

Apple has improved in CS lately. I also had to have my battery completely replaced after it was only charging at 30% of capacity within 2 years! Brand new battery + new power adapter (all at no cost) and my Laptop is pretty much just like it was 2 years ago!

August 20 2008 at 8:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ben

Sucks to read about everyone's getting replaced so easily... about seven months ago my magsafe cord for my macbook pro was frayed and sparking and the apple genius wouldn't replace it, saying I couldn't prove it wasn't me that caused the damage and that it was outside of my apple care warranty. Makes me angry, and I've been through a move and tossed the old one out. :(

August 20 2008 at 8:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
El Payo

Just traded mine in at the Apple store in San Francisco. The Concierge had no idea about the program, but the Mac Geniuses swapped it right away. Totally hassle-free.

August 20 2008 at 6:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tim

Does anyone know if there is a similar recall for the the iPhone usb charging cable? I am noticing the same deterioration with it as is depicted in the picture for the MagSafe power adapter.

August 20 2008 at 6:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Luke Davis

I had a frayed cord about a year back - pretty soon after becoming a new Mac user. The guy at the genius bar told me he couldn't prove i didn't cause the damage so he wouldn't fix the problem. He went to far as to even say I probably did it myself. He advised I come in next time before the cord got too frayed.

That incident almost made me go back to PCs ... thankfully I'm still with mac. Seriously tho - that was an awful experience and cost me the price of a new cable - those things AINT CHEAP!

August 20 2008 at 3:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Christina Warren

Nice! the top molding is coming apart on one of my adaptors (don't know if it is the boyfriend's MacBook adaptor or mine, since we share the two across the house) and I was dreading having to potentially deal with the assertion that Apple Care or no-Apple Care, my one-year old adaptor was not replaceable.

I'll do this this week!

August 20 2008 at 2:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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